Page 16 of Thorn & Ash

At first she tried to engage him in conversation by asking such questions as, “Where did you come from?” or “What do you do in your spare time?” or “What’s the most remarkable soul you’ve ever come across?” But Evander only answered in cagey half-truths or avoided the question altogether. It seemed that their open conversation earlier had made him more cautious, and now he didn’t want to share anything with her at all.

The thought stung her more than she cared to admit.

When Mona tired of her fruitless efforts to talk, she strived to move, even just a small part of herself. She knew she didn’t have her body and that was part of the problem, but she was still here, still looked like herself, even if it was a whisper of who she once was. Surely, she would have some kind of control. She’d been a fairly capable witch in her lifetime, and now seemed as good a time as any to practice her abilities and see what she could do.

Her insides twisted at the thought of Prue, who often practiced alongside her—albeit begrudgingly. It made the experience so much more enjoyable.

But Prue wasn’t here. Because Mona made the choice to die instead. And she never once regretted it.

Mona was determined to make her sister proud. So, she tried everything… to no avail. She strained her nonexistent muscles, willing her limbs to move with the strength of her mind. She managed to blink her eyes, even close her eyelids. Her head could droop and she could nod and shake her head. But her arms and legs were utterly useless. She couldn’t even lift a finger.

When she was too tired to attempt movement, she merely observed, just as Evander did. She watched him stride up and down the river, his gait perfectly at ease. Sometimes he even had his hands shoved in his pockets as if he were simply on an evening stroll instead of overseeing a river of dead souls. His manner, his posture, even his expressions were nothing but calmness and cool calculation.

But based on what he’d told her before, she knew a riot of emotions and sadness swarmed inside him. It was all a facade.

Mona couldn’t stand it.

She much preferred someone with Prue’s demeanor—passionate, quick to anger, but fiercely loyal. Someone she could read easily.

But Evander—he was full of secrets. And these secrets only made Mona more curious and wary.

For instance, when the sun set—even though Mona knew there was no true sun here, since it was just an illusion—Evander disappeared. Every day. She watched the dark forest, trying to convince herself not to be afraid of demons or beasts that might roam nearby because, well, she was already dead, so what could they do to her?

But Evander remained absent until the sun rose once more, and he emerged from the trees as if nothing were amiss. He passed underneath a pair of pine trees, two towering forms that marked the edge of the forest.

Mona was grateful she had enough control to scowl at him as he approached. She hoped her fearsome expression would frighten him into telling her all his secrets.

But, of course, Mona had no such luck.

“Where were you?” Mona demanded when he said nothing, just crossed his arms and gazed at the water like he always did. It had been three days of this, Evander avoiding her and then disappearing with the setting sun, only to return and infuriate her once more.

Evander blinked as if just realizing she was there. “Excuse me?”

“You’ve been gone all night. For three nights.” Her tone was full of accusation. “Don’t you have a solemn responsibility to monitor the river at all times?”

Evander’s expression remained calm and unreadable. “The river was in no danger. I was watching.”

Mona scoffed. “You were not. I watched the forest the whole time, and I couldn’t see you.”

“Just because you could not see me doesn’t mean I wasn’t there.”

Mona opened her mouth, then closed it because he was right. Was it possible that, even as a spirit, she still couldn’t see well at night? Prue always had better vision than she did.

Did Evander have perfect vision? Could he see well in the dark?

“What exactly are you?” Mona asked.

Evander tensed as if she’d just thrown a nasty insult at him. His silvery eyes flashed for the briefest of moments before his expression schooled itself once more. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Are you human?”

He relaxed slightly. “No.”

“A demon?”

Evander said nothing, his gaze straying to the river as if he were bored with the conversation.

“Perhaps you’re a guardian angel?” Mona tried again.

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